How to Start Affiliate Marketing (Even With 0 Followers) – Proven Strategy for Beginners

How to Start Affiliate Marketing (Even With 0 Followers) – Proven Strategy for Beginners

What Is Affiliate Marketing and Why It Works

Affiliate marketing explained simply

Affiliate marketing is a commission-based business model where you earn money by recommending products or services.

You don’t need to manufacture products, manage customer service, or even handle logistics.

You just:

  • Join an affiliate program
  • Share your unique link
  • Earn a commission when someone makes a purchase

It’s low risk, low cost, and high potential—perfect for beginners with no experience or audience.

Why it works without a large audience

Contrary to what Instagram might suggest, affiliate marketing isn’t about how many followers you have—it’s about how well you can:

  • Target the right audience
  • Present a product as a genuine solution
  • Create content that inspires action

Micro-influencers and faceless marketers are proof that engagement and strategy trump follower count.

Myth-Busting: You Don’t Need Followers to Start

The follower fallacy

Many assume affiliate marketing success is tied to having a large audience.

While a big audience helps, it’s not a requirement.

With proper positioning, even a tiny or faceless presence can drive meaningful sales.

What you actually need instead

  • A product you believe in
  • A way to deliver value (email list, short-form content, blog)
  • Consistency and a willingness to learn

These are more important than going viral or being "internet famous."

Step 1: Understand the Affiliate Marketing Model

How affiliate links and commissions work

When you join an affiliate program, you get a unique link to track your referrals.

If someone clicks and buys through that link, you get paid.

The percentage varies—some programs offer 5%, others up to 90% for digital products.

Example of a beginner-friendly affiliate funnel

  1. Create a freebie (e.g., checklist or guide)
  2. Offer it in exchange for an email
  3. Send follow-up emails with affiliate links
  4. Share your freebie on social platforms

No selling.

Just educating and recommending.

Step 2: Pick Products You Can Truly Recommend

How to choose valuable digital products

Focus on solving real problems for your audience.

Digital products—like courses, templates, or toolkits—often offer:

  • Higher commissions (30–70%)
  • Instant delivery
  • Recurring income potential

Recommended: Rich Girl Academy for beginners

If you're just starting out, Rich Girl Academy is a top-tier affiliate program.

It includes:

  • High payouts
  • Done-for-you content
  • No face required
  • Beginner tutorials

👉 Click here to check it out

Step 3: Set Up a Lean, Profitable Sales Funnel

Tools you need (Stan Store, Beacons, etc.)

No website?

No problem.

Use platforms like:

  • Stan Store – great for digital products
  • Beacons – link-in-bio + sales features
  • Shopify – more flexibility for scaling later

Building a simple lead magnet

Create a free digital gift to attract your ideal audience.

Example:

  • “Free Guide: 5 Tools That Helped Me Start Affiliate Marketing Faceless”

Collect emails, then follow up with affiliate recommendations.

Step 4: Create Content That Converts (Not Entertains)

Content ideas for beginners

Focus on pain-point content.

Talk about solutions, not products.

Examples:

  • “How I Made My First $100 Without Ads or Followers”
  • “3 Affiliate Mistakes Beginners Make”
  • “Why This $27 Course Changed My Strategy”

Where to post (TikTok, Threads, Pinterest)

Pick 1–2 platforms where your audience hangs out.

For most, that’s:

  • TikTok (faceless content works!)
  • Pinterest (visual search engine)
  • Threads or Twitter (text-driven tips)

Hooking your audience with pain-point-driven content

Lead with emotional triggers:

  • “Tired of being broke?”
  • “Want to work from your phone?”
  • “Struggling to sell online?”

Then show your product as the solution.

Step 5: Start Without Showing Your Face

Faceless marketing strategies that work

You can build trust without showing your face using:

  • Screen recordings
  • Carousel-style posts
  • Voiceovers
  • Animated explainers
  • POV writing

Examples of no-face creators

Accounts that use text overlays, anonymous narrations, or even just aesthetic visuals are thriving in affiliate marketing—especially in niches like finance, productivity, or self-improvement.

Step 6: Use Email Marketing to Boost Conversions

Why email is still king

Social platforms change.

Algorithms crash.

But your email list?

That’s yours.

Email converts 3–5x better than social.

Tools for beginners

  • ConvertKit (free up to 1,000 subscribers)
  • MailerLite
  • Flodesk (aesthetic design for creators)

What to send your list

  • Tips and personal stories
  • Product use-cases
  • Affiliate links in context (never spam!)

Step 7: Track, Optimize, and Scale

Key metrics to watch

  • Click-through rate (CTR)
  • Conversion rate (CR)
  • Email open rates
  • Traffic sources

Split testing basics

Try different headlines, calls-to-action, or product angles.

See what gets better results.

Scaling once you see traction

Once you make your first few sales, reinvest:

  • Upgrade tools
  • Test paid ads
  • Expand content reach

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

  • Promoting bad products just for money
  • Copying others without a strategy
  • Ignoring analytics
  • Quitting before results show

Stay consistent.

Results take time.

Faceless Affiliate Marketing Tools You Should Know

Automation tools

  • Zapier (automate tasks)
  • Notion or Trello (organize content ideas)

Content scheduling apps

  • Later
  • Buffer
  • Planoly

Link shorteners

  • Bitly
  • Pretty Links (for WordPress)

Daily Routine of a Successful Affiliate Marketer

Morning

  • Check analytics
  • Respond to comments or emails

Afternoon

  • Write content
  • Film faceless video or carousel

Evening

  • Schedule posts
  • Engage in DMs or community

Rinse.

Repeat.

Adjust.

Case Study: Earning $100 Commission Without Followers

A beginner started by:

  • Choosing Rich Girl Academy
  • Posting pain-point content on Threads
  • Creating a freebie with Canva
  • Sending 3 value emails per week

Result?

$100 in commissions by Day 17—with 0 followers to start.

FAQs About Starting Affiliate Marketing With 0 Followers

Do I need a blog to start?

No. A simple sales page or link-in-bio setup is enough to begin.

Can I stay anonymous?

Absolutely. Many successful marketers never show their face.

What if I hate selling?

You’re recommending, not selling. Focus on solving problems.

How long does it take to make money?

Many see results in 30–60 days with consistent effort.

How do I get traffic without followers?

Pinterest, SEO blog posts, TikTok, and email marketing are gold mines.

What’s the best affiliate program for beginners?

Try Rich Girl Academy for done-for-you content and high commissions.

Final Thoughts: Start Now, Not Later

Affiliate marketing isn’t about being famous.

It’s about solving problems, showing up, and sharing the right message.

Your first commission is closer than you think—but only if you start.

Ready to take the leap?
💻 Enroll in Rich Girl Academy →

Back to blog